Bulldog Nation Mourns; Erk Russell Dead
coincopwife
Posts: 182 ✭✭
in Sports Talk
ATLANTA -- Georgia Southern University's first coach and a former UGA assistant coach under Vince Dooley in the 70's and 80's has died after having a stroke while driving.
Bulloch County coroner Jake Futch has confirmed the death.
Officials say around 8:45 a.m. Friday morning, Russell was pulling out of a Statesboro gas station when the coroner believes he had a stroke behind the wheel. Officials say the vehicle continued and hit a pole, but it is believed he was already dead at the time.
Russell earned national prominence during 17 years as the University of Georgia's defensive coordinator. He moved to Georgia Southern to build the school's first football team since 1941. He won Division I-AA championships in 1985, '86 and '89.
A native of Birmingham, AL, Russell holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn. He played football, basketball, baseball and tennis for the Tigers, earning 10 varsity letters. Russell was the last four-sport letterman in Auburn history.
Born July 23, 1926, Russell is married to the former Jean Farmer of Birmingham. They have two sons--Rusty and Jay--who are also football coaches.
Lewis Grizzard said of Russell in 1991, "Only Erk could transform a rainwater gulley alongside Georgia Southern's practice field into the "miracle water of Eagle Creek," and only Erk could have transformed a dormant program into a national championship."
Erk Russell was 80 years old.
Bulloch County coroner Jake Futch has confirmed the death.
Officials say around 8:45 a.m. Friday morning, Russell was pulling out of a Statesboro gas station when the coroner believes he had a stroke behind the wheel. Officials say the vehicle continued and hit a pole, but it is believed he was already dead at the time.
Russell earned national prominence during 17 years as the University of Georgia's defensive coordinator. He moved to Georgia Southern to build the school's first football team since 1941. He won Division I-AA championships in 1985, '86 and '89.
A native of Birmingham, AL, Russell holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn. He played football, basketball, baseball and tennis for the Tigers, earning 10 varsity letters. Russell was the last four-sport letterman in Auburn history.
Born July 23, 1926, Russell is married to the former Jean Farmer of Birmingham. They have two sons--Rusty and Jay--who are also football coaches.
Lewis Grizzard said of Russell in 1991, "Only Erk could transform a rainwater gulley alongside Georgia Southern's practice field into the "miracle water of Eagle Creek," and only Erk could have transformed a dormant program into a national championship."
Erk Russell was 80 years old.
0
Comments
Hi CCW! Don't be a stranger, 'ya here
<< <i>RIP
Hi CCW! Don't be a stranger, 'ya here
You people scare me.
<< <i>
<< <i>RIP
Hi CCW! Don't be a stranger, 'ya here
You people scare me.
Why is that? We are just one big happy family
/sarcasm
CCW, is this your first post here? I don't think I've ever seen you here before. Nice addition FWIW.
<< <i>I'm pretty sure some of the folks over here bite >>
:bites tongue: